Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-03-26
"MOTHER BICKERDYKE.

Ine FAMOUS Hospital nurse OF the Civil
"Why don't you write something
about 'MotherBickerdyker" was an in
quiry put to New York reporter by an
old army captain recently. Ibis result
ed in an inquiry as to who "Mother
Bickerdyks" might be. Said the cap
tain: "There are few soldiers who served
in the western army who have not heard
or known Mother Bickerdyke. In the
early months of the war she was the only
woman nurse in the large hospital at
Cairo, I'LL She was woman of strong
character, fine executive ability, much
energy and reserve force in emergencies.
The hospital at Cairo had become noto-
rious for the incompetency and intern
perance of the surgeons in charge. They
neglected their patients and spent their
nights in riotous living, breaking open
the stores and riaing the refrigerators
and pantries of the delicacies that were
furnished by the sanatiry commission
for the sick. Mother Bickerdyke stood
this for two or three weeks and then ap-
pealed to Ulysses 8. Grant, then colonel
Of the Twenty first Illinois, to whom she
preferred charges against the surgeons.
Grant was astounded. With determina-
ton to make certain Of the situation he
put on citizens clothes one evening and
went down to the hospital, where he saw
enough to confirm the worst statements
that had been made to him by the faith
full nurse. There was prompt action the
next day. The surgeons were dismissed
and the hospital was reorganized. From
that Time Mother Bickerdy ke always had
access to Grant, and her recommends
tions were generally carried out. As he
rose IN position in the army her power
in the hospital became greater, until she
overshadowed all with whom she came
in contact. She remained in the volun-
teer nurse service until the close of the
war. If she could be induced to write
her experiences they would prove as in
terestlng as any chapters,of the great
rebellion"
A volume might be added to the cap
tain's brief story of Mother Bickerdyke'
army work. What many old soldiers, who
were the recipients of her kind services
in their day of misfortune, would like
to know is: What hae become of Mother
since the war? It would be
a hard task to follow her, so unostenta-
tiously has her work been carried on, but
she has been engaged in philanthropic
work until she has become too feeble to
help others than herself. Her marvel
GUS ability was called upon during the
Chicago fire, and since then suffering
occasioned by the grasshopper plaques,
thoughts, forest fires ard other public
She brought carloads of
seeds and food from the east to suffering
Kansas on several occasions. In the in
tervals she has maintained herself by
acting as matron, nurse and housekeeper
in charitable institutions.
The soldiers of the west proposed to
tax themselves ten cents year to main
tain her above want, but she refused to
accept the money. For eighteen years
there was an application for pension
tor her pigeon holed in Washington, but
last year it was granted, allowing her
s25 month. Now at the age of "a, she
earns the balance of her living in the.
San Francisco mint, her home being at
2244 Mission street. To an acquaint-
nee she said not long ago: "Good-by!
shall be mustered out before long and
'hall not see you here again. But we
shall find one another sometime, some
Vherep